“The Hanging Tree” by Ellery Kane

Narrated by Kristin James, Brad Oxnam & Eric Stuart

Amazon blurb: What if you couldn’t remember the worst night of your life? What if you couldn’t forget it?

May 13, 1994.

On her 13th birthday, newly orphaned Evie witnesses a brutal attack at the hanging tree. She wakes the next morning on a bus to Los Angeles, dazed, bruised, and desperate to remember. Her best friend died that night – she’s sure of it. But there’s no body, no crime scene, and no witnesses. Twenty-three years later, the whole night is still a blur. The murderer, a faceless, nameless man.

Fresh out of a stint in juvie, Butch kills a girl, strangles her. Twenty-three years later, he walks out of prison a free man. But a haunted one, the ghost of his past at his heels.

When another body turns up at the hanging tree – a girl, strangled – Evie is certain her lost memory holds the key. Can Butch help her find the faceless man? Or is he hiding the darkest secret of all?

My thoughts: This is a definite discovery. The author kindly, at my request, sent me a copy of the audiobook version. I hadn’t read anything from Ellery Kane before so I wasn’t really sure if this would be something I liked. This story is another psychological thriller, this time with a psychologist as the lead character Evie. I have to say I was really impressed with this story. Evie has had more than her share of challenges in her life but still sees hope and promise in even the worst people she meets. But she is haunted by events from her past and a recent murder has started stirring it all up again in her mind. I found Evie to be a character that is easy to like but one who sticks to her principles. I also really like Butch. Even though he’s been in prison for many years for murder you can tell by his internal dialogue that he is really committed to making his new chance at life be a successful one. His loyalty to Evie is also impressive. There are several side dramas going on alongside the main plot with added richness to the story and gave it depth. The only thing I have an issue with is the narrator who voices Butch’s part of the story. It was dramatic but felt very forceful throughout and there were a few times when the intensity of the narrator’s voice felt overwhelming and I had to take a break. The story itself is great and I highly recommend you check out Ellery Kane’s books.